'Youth work is not an optional extra': Cork TDs urged to support increased investment in youth sector 

A postcard has been sent to all of Cork’s TDs by 499 young people from throughout the county calling for an extra €15m investment in young people and youth work to provide safe spaces in an environment increasingly under threat from the far right.

The postcard to the 18 TDs across five constituencies in the county is part of a wider national campaign in which representatives of each constituency’s young people have sent a similar message to their Dáil representatives.

The bottom line outlined in the postcards calls for an additional €15m for youth work. According to The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) this investment is needed to secure the future of crucial youth services, which would have a significant positive impact on local communities.

In the NYCI pre-budget submission, the organisation argued the role of youth work was to provide safe spaces and build “positive relationships between young people and their communities, amidst growing concerns over the vulnerability of young people to divisive narratives and the rising impact of far-right influencers”.

NYCI director of policy and advocacy Kathryn Walsh said youth work was “a crucial preventive tool for young people at risk of social and educational exclusion, harm and exploitation”.

“Youth work is not an ‘optional extra’ or a sticking plaster when other services can’t meet young people’s needs,” Ms Walsh said.

“So, the role of youth work as a place of safety, belonging, and growth is a key protective factor for all young people and must be prioritised and resourced.”

Recent analysis of online platforms by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue has highlighted an alarming rise in far-right narratives. At the same time youth work organisations report that they are increasingly required to challenge these dangerous ideologies while providing essential support to young people from minority groups seeking safety.

“The rise of dangerous far-right narratives and the increasing economic struggle for young people are not occurring in isolation,” said Ms. Walsh.